Clean Your Cell Phone - Avoid Swine Flu

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A couple of years ago we found out that germ-a-phobes had something new to worry about - their cellphones were crawling with potentially lethal bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control agrees that "... Cell phones may have a notable role in the ... transmission of ... microbes to patients"

Now new evidence for the filth comes from a TV station in Los Angeles. KTLA found that over 90% of the cellphones in their newsroom had dangerous levels of bacteria, including staphylococcus.

Add all this to recent evidence that cellphones are spreading superbugs in hospitals, including antibiotic resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and it's time to consider paying attention to some simple cell phone hygiene guidlines:

1. Wipe off your phone every day with a dry cloth.

2. Wipe it off once a week with baby wipe, or a soft cleaning cloth with a little rubbing alcohol.

3. Once a month, turn off your phone, dip a cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol and rub it around the button surfaces and crevices.

Some devices, such as Apple's iPhone, have fewer crevices and buttons and are therefore easier to clean. That's certainly something to consider, isn't it?

Curt is the founder & CEO of a timesheet software company in Austin, Texas.

Curt Finch

Curt Finch has more than two decades of software development and distributed workforce management experience. In 1997, Curt created the world's first internet-based timesheet application and the foundation for the current Journyx product offering. Curt has a B.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech. His book, All Your Money, is available on Amazon. @curtfinch